READY FOR DUTY – North Bergen Police Chief Robert Dowd (hands clasped) recently swore in six new police officers to the department at town hall. They are (from left, at the left picture frame): Christopher Orellana, Jonathan Sinchi, Melissa Gonzalez, Jason Castillo, Michael Rivetti, and George Dabal. The recruits entered the police academy on July 19 and will assume active duty upon graduating.

Guttenberg to receive $3.65 million in funding from Schools Development Authority

The state’s Schools Development Authority (SDA) on Friday, June 12, announced a state grant of more than $3.6 million for the Guttenberg School District through the SDA’s Regular Operating District (ROD) grant program.

The $3,651,737 grant will provide funds to build a three-story addition to the Anna L. Klein School, the only elementary school in Guttenberg. The grant will also allow for 13,000 square feet of renovations to the existing school.

The Christie Administration announced the resumption of the grant program in 2010. The program funds at least 40 percent of eligible costs for projects in the RODs, addressing health and safety issues, student overcrowding, and other critical needs.

The Department of Education selects school projects to receive funding from the SDA.

In May, Gov. Chris Christie announced that nearly a half billion dollars for additional grants would be made available for needed construction projects in the RODs and County Vocational Schools across the state.

Summer concert series continues with Motown sound

The Town of Guttenberg will host “Smooth,” a Motown revue, as part of its Summer Concerts for residents on Thurs., Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. between 70th and 71st Streets on Boulevard East.

“This exciting and talented band will take you through a fascinating recreation of the sounds of the Temptations, the Four Tops, and many more,” said Capt. Joel Magenheimer of the Guttenberg Police Department, who planned the concerts.

For more information about the concerts, contact Capt. Joel Magenheimer at (201) 868-2315, ext. 128.

Free training offered about caring for loved one with mental illness

The Hudson County NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family to Family education program is offering 12-week course for families and close friends of adults with mental illness on caring for their loved ones.

The course will be held on Mondays from 6:30 to 9 p.m., Sept. 9 through Nov. 25, at Jersey City Medical Center, 355 Grand Ave., Jersey City. Training is free, but registration is required.

The program is taught by trained volunteer family members who are experienced in caring for a loved one with serious mental illness such as major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.

Family to Family participants will receive information on: family responses to the trauma of mental illness; updates on several serious mental illnesses; and symptoms, medication and side effects.

Attendees will also practice problem solving skills and communication techniques; develop strategies for handling crisis and relapses; review local community resources; and support, and focus on self-care and coping with stress.

To register, call (201) 420-9270 or email namihudson@msn.com.

Senator unveils legislation to aid adults affected by autism

In an effort to expand the nation’s understanding of – and services for – young adults and their families living with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez on Monday, July 15, unveiled legislation that would provide federal funding to research and evaluate services currently available for young people “aging out” of existing education and support systems, develop a national strategic action plan, and provide training grants to initiate action in helping to transition youth to lead independent lives.

“For too many young people with autism spectrum disorders, the end of high school means the end of the support and skills training they need to succeed in the new world of adulthood,” said Menendez. “We need a national response to ensure that resources are available to enable these young adults to lead the productive, fulfilling lives they deserve.”

The Assistance in Gaining Experience, Independence and Navigation Act of 2013 will address the needs of aging-out youth with ASD in two phases: The first is designed to identify the most effective interventions and existing support service infrastructure to develop a comprehensive training plan. The second phase puts this plan to action by providing grants to existing entities.

Each year, nearly 50,000 children with an ASD reach adulthood with few opportunities for continuing their education or finding employment. Less than half of transitioning youth are participating in either secondary education or employment within the two years after leaving high school, and only 35 percent receive any additional education within six years.

Moth Night part of Seniors Program

Learn all about moths – those amazing cousins of butterflies – at the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s second Moth Night on Monday, July 22, 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., at DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst.

“We’ll be hosting the folks from National Moth Week, who’ll present a short talk on moths and why they are so awesome yet misunderstood,” said NJMC spokesman Brian Aberback. “Then we’ll check out the NMW’s industrial-strength mercury vapor lamps and white sheets to identify and admire the various species. We'll also try ‘sugaring’ to attract moths as well.”

The goal of the event – part of National Moth week – is to raise awareness of these seldom seen insects.

This free, family-friendly event is sponsored by the NJMC and Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. To RSVP, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or (201) 230-4983. (The rain date is Tuesday, July 23.)

Local non-profit to enroll needy residents in affordable health insurance program

To encourage as many eligible persons as possible to enroll in affordable health insurance, the Obama administration is sending money to existing health centers for outreach. Funds were awarded to organizations based on their potential for increasing enrollment, including the local North Hudson Community Action Corporation, which provides health care for needy patients in Union City, West New York, North Bergen, Weehawken, Jersey City, and other Hudson County towns on a sliding scale.

Twenty health centers in New Jersey are splitting $3.4 million with NHCAC. NHCAC is the largest health center system in New Jersey, receiving the largest share, $484,000.

NHCAC hopes to put 10 employees into the field later this month to begin the outreach process. Six current employees have been transferred to the new program and one new employee was hired so far. They began training on July first.

Tommy Chin, Director of Human Resources for NHCAC, said there will be sweeping changes to health care in January and the enrollment specialists had to learn about eligibility rules, so he was glad he could reassign current employees who had a head start because they were already somewhat familiar with health care.

The federal government intends to set up a national hotline and a website to answer questions about health insurance, but often low-income people do not have access to computers and are not fluent enough in spoken or written English to ask the right questions and understand the answers/

Only persons living in this country legally are eligible to enroll in the insurance programs.

Christina Hernandez, one of the newly trained enrollment specialists, said she is excited to be able to tell people about the new opportunity to become insured.

She recalled when she was a newcomer to America from El Salvador, she was attending New Jersey City State University seeking her BA, and was advised by a friend to get her primary health care at NHCAC's West New York health center. She loved the program and decided she wanted to align herself with the organization and its mission.

"I am committed to working with the community, to helping people become more informed because being informed will enable them to improve the quality of their lives,” she said. – Al Sullvian